Nintendo to bring Game Boy Advance titles to Wii U next week

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Given how the WiiU’s big controller can be used without the TV being switched on, and fits in the palms of your hands, it is perhaps natural that Nintendo have thought to bring a bunch of handheld titles to the Virtual Console.

Want to feel old? I remember excitedly saving up for a Game Boy Advance on launch day in 2001, and being the coolest kid in the school yard when I showed off the isometric adaption of Tony Hawks 2 (I was almost too cool – that’s why my classmates always beat me up, right?). Now though titles from the console are considered suitably retro enough to release as a cheap digital download.

On the 3rd April, the first three titles will be launched. I’ve left Nintendo’s breathlessly excited copywriter’s descriptions in, as I’m not sure I could muster the same levels of enthusiasm. The titles will be:

Advance Wars (£6.29) is a critically acclaimed turn-based strategy game, in which you must lead your Commanding Officers to victory. Take control of ground, air and naval forces and face enemies across more than 100 battlefields, tackling a range of terrains and weather conditions.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (£6.29), the first game in the Mario & Luigi series is a zany, action-filled role-playing game, which lets you control both of these stars simultaneously and take part in turn-based battles. Mario and Luigi must work together to explore the vast lands of the Beanbean Kingdom and defeat the evil witch who has stolen Princess Peach’s voice.

Metroid Fusion (£6.29) offers classic bounty hunter, gun-toting action but with an added twist: hero Samus Aran has been attacked by a deadly parasite! Cured by Metroid DNA, Samus is bestowed with unique new powers, and sets out on a quest to hunt down and face the mysterious ‘SA-X’. Metroid Fusion combines an engaging original story with intense platform action in classic Metroid series style.

These will be followed on 10th April by Kirby & The Amazing Mirror and Warioware Inc: Minigame Mania, and on 17th April by F-Zero Maximum Velocity and the critically acclaimed Golden Sun (though I’m sad to say I could never get into it).

Finally on April 24th, Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3 will be joining the fray.

What’s nice is that if you were a Game Boy Advance owner like me, and never got a Game Boy Advance SP, this is the first time you’ll have been able to play the above games on a screen where you can actually see what is happening.